Self Righteous Cyclist

One of things which really stands out about cyclists is the strong tendency to look out for each other.  If you are out for a bunch ride and get a flat and have to pull over to change a tube, your mates riding with you are going to pull over and wait for you or even render assistance if it's needed.  If I'm riding solo, riders going past will often slow and ask if everything's ok and I'll do the same.  There's an instant trust, camaraderie and willingness to help because you are one of us which you just don't get if you're stranded in your car.  I've done it myself and just driven past someone in a car and it's not that I don't want to help, but mechanics is not my strong suit, it feels kind of creepy nowadays to help a complete stranger and the person seems to be on their mobile phone to their local roadside assistance provider. My Dad on the other hand is one of those people who will stop and render assistance.  A backyard mecha...

Hard Rubbish Day for those who aren't familiar with the concept is when you put your unwanted household items out the front of your house knowing that your local council is going to pay some contractor to come along, collect and hopefully sort it, recycle or dispose of it. That's after all of the neighbours and seagulls from all over town have trawled your bric-a-brac on the kerbside eyeing off anything of relative value to take home with them or to take to the nearest scrap recycler.  Let's just say it's fare game for all and it's a form of modern day recycling which probably saves the council thousands in collection and tipping fees. The story begins on my daily cycling commute from North Yarra to Blackburn, where it soon becomes apparent that the leafy council of Boroondara is having its annual kerbside carnival.  It kind of made me wonder whether there is some kind of one upmanship going on here.  Can I show off to my neighbours by showing how...